Around Town

State Public Health Officials Warn of West Nile Virus Locally After 4th Human Case

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) today announced the fourth human case of West Nile virus (WNV) in the state this year. The person is a woman in her 50s from Middlesex County who was never hospitalized for her illness. Three other cases were reported on Friday. Investigations conducted by state public health officials indicate that at least two of the four cases were exposed in the greater Boston area leading them to raise the risk level from moderate to high for 11 communities in the area. Those communities are Arlington, Boston, Belmont, Brookline, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Medford, Newton, Somerville, and Watertown.

Elections

LETTER: Watertown Republicans Urge People to Vote in the State Primary, Share Endorsements

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Open Letter from the Watertown to Republican Town Committee Chairman:

On behalf of the Watertown Republican Town Committee (WRTC), I want to remind all voters to get out on and vote on Tuesday September 4th in the upcoming State Primary. Primary Day is both the first day of school and the day after Labor Day, therefore many might not be aware or even thinking in terms of voting yet. Nevertheless it is important that Watertown makes her voice heard. So no matter what your political leanings are, or what Primary you are inclined to vote in, please don’t forget to take a few minutes to study the candidates and vote on September 4th. To my fellow Republicans and those unenrolled voters who will be pulling a Republican Ballot, I would like to take a moment to remind you that the WRTC has endorsed the following candidates.

Elections

LETTER: Resident Defends Marilyn Pettito Devaney, Supports Her Reelection to Governor’s Council

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Editor:

I just received a flyer in the mail today from candidate Nick Carter. I would like to respond to the false accusations he writes about Councillor Marilyn Petitto Devaney. He doesn’t tell you the facts as to why the Council/ Councillor Devaney voted no. Look at the facts and research her voting record. I did my research and this is what I found:

FALSE — Just as one example. He states Councillor Devaney voted NO on a qualified nominee – Jennifer Roberts.

Business

Changes Recommended to Plastic Shopping Bag Ban to Encourage Reusable Bags

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The ban of single use plastic bags has been in place in Watertown for just over a year, and those who pushed for the ban suggest some tweaks be made to the ordinance. 

Earlier this month, the Town Council heard a report about how the Bring Your Own Bag ordinance has gone in its first year. All stores have stopped giving the thin plastic bags to customers, but some continue to hand out plastic bags made of thicker material which are not biodegradable. The bags meet the requirement that bags must be 4 mil thick, but do not “meet the spirit of the ordinance,” said Councilor Anthony Donato, who read the report from the Rules & Ordinances subcommittee. “The community didn’t envision this outcome and the Council wants to see how we can strengthen our current ordinance,” Donato said. The plastic bag ordinance was first presented to the Town Council by ReThink Plastic, a resident group seeking to eliminate single-use plastic bags and encourage people to use reusable shopping bags.

Government

Company Seeking to Store Prefab Homes on Pleasant Street Lot

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The Watertown Planning Board heard a proposal to allow prefabricated homes to be stored on Pleasant Street, across from Russo’s market, for about four months. The proposal, presented by Scott Oran of Austin Street Partners last week, would be for 527 Pleasant St., an unused lot that had been part of the parking area for Raytheon. Up to 25 modular homes built in Canada would be stored on the site until they are installed. Each home is 12 feet x 63 feet x 11 feet. The proposed timeline for the storage would be from September to December 2018.

Athletics

Final Recommendations for Victory Field Track Area Presented to Town Council

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The Committee looking at the Renovation of the track and courts area of Victory Field heard from a variety of residents and users of the facility and came up with a plan they hope balances the needs of the school sports programs, people who use the area recreationally and neighbors. After more than a year and a dozen meetings, the Ad Hoc Committee on Victory Field Phase 2 presented a list of more than 50 recommendations. At Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, Town Council President Mark Sideris commended the members of the committee for recommendations they came up with. “I applaud all of them for listening to the community and coming up with a plan that in my opinion is a very good report,” Sideris said. The committee members included Town Councilors, neighbors of the field, Youth Sports, and representatives from the Town and the Watertown Public Schools.

Government

OP-ED: State Senator’s Long Effort to Pass Non-Compete Agreement Reform Comes to Fruition

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The following piece was provided by State. Sen. Will Brownsberger, D — Belmont, who represents Watertown:

Ten years ago, a friend in Belmont told me how her career had been derailed by an unfair contract.  She asked for a legislative remedy — not for herself, but to protect others. I agreed to work with her. The project became a central focus for me across five sessions of the legislature. Finally, last week, the Governor signed legislation limiting the use of “non-competition agreements.” The legislation is not the complete remedy she sought 10 years ago, but it is a big step forward.

30 Elm Street

Proposed Self Storage, R&D Building on Elm St. Pleases Planning Board

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The latest proposal for the property at 30 Elm Street — which would create a self-storage facility with space for biotech and a community space —  pleased members of the Planning Board, who recommended that the Zoning Board give it final approval. Developers seek to put up the four-story, 49-foot tall building on the property behind Target which used to be the Atlantic Battery Co. Previously there was a proposal to build a five-story hotel, but it was rejected by the Zoning Board in 2015. While the majority of the building would be devoted to self storage, the front of the building would feature space for a research and development company and space for a community use, such as the Hatch maker space, said attorney Bill York, who represented 30 Elm Street Partners LLC. Architect Hans Strauch from HDS Architecture said designers wanted to make the building attractive.